Local leaders react to Cuomo's State of the State address

ALBANY -- The progressive proposals in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address, which begins discussions in the 236th state legislative session, drew mixed reaction from local elected officials.

"It was an Upstate New York State of the State address," observed newly inaugurated state Rep. John McDonald, D-Cohoes, who called Cuomo's proposal for three casinos to be built upstate "interesting."

Two Saratoga County legislators, State Sen. Kathy Marchione, R-Halfmoon, and Rep. Tony Jordan, R-Jackson, said in statements that Cuomo should have addressed mandate relief in his speech.

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"I was hoping to hear more about a specific plan to tackle the serious challenge of New York's unfunded mandate crisis, as unfunded mandates are hurting taxpayers and pushing local governments to the brink of bankruptcy," Marchione said. Jordan echoed Marchione, saying "we must do more to protect New York taxpayers."

Sen. Neil Breslin (D-Delmar) called the address "the most progressive speech" given by Cuomo yet and said he approved of all of the topics presented, including the increase in minimum wage and campaign finance reform. "It was an impressive, positive agenda," Breslin noted.

Marchione, a gun owner like the governor, said she does not support Cuomo's proposal to create some of the strictest gun policies in the nation.

"While I have yet to see the specific details or actual legislation, I have concerns -- serious concerns -- that these proposals could quickly become costly mandates, drive away employers like Remington Arms and curtail the Second Amendment Constitutional freedoms of gun owners," she said.

In his statement, Jordan said he will look for ways to keep communities and families safe from gun violence while also protecting gun owners' rights.

New York State Unite Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi said in a statement that proposals to expand pre-kindergarten programs, establish more community schools with a full range of services for students in low-wealth districts and explore increasing learning time for students all have the potential to accelerate learning.

"We appreciate the governor's recognition that schools are more than an academic setting and that expanded access to pre-kindergarten programs offers valuable educational opportunities to our neediest students," he noted.

McDonald, D-Cohoes McDonald liked Cuomo's idea of giving schools incentives to expand their school days or shorten breaks by having the state pay for the cost of the changed curriculum. "It's exciting," McDonald said. "But the budget will dictate the funding of programs."